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"Daily State Journal"
Volume I, No.205, Austin, Texas, Tuesday Morning
September 27, 1871, Page 2, Column 3
"Assassination"- Colonel Trigg, our District Attorney, informs us that about eleven o'clock Saturday night, in the town of Lockhart, William Dorris, the Treasurer of Caldwell County and son of A. Dorris, member ofthe Legislature from Caldwell was murdered by parties unknown. The matter is undergoing investigation by proper authorities, and it is hoped and believed that the criminals will soon be unearthed. "San Antonio Daily Herald"
Volume XI, No. 78, San Antonio, Texas, Saturday Morning
October 1, 1871, Page 2 (Back Page), Column 1
"Gleanings"- The Austin Republican learns from Col. Trigg, that William Dorris, son of the poetical representative from Caldwell was killed in a difficulty with some unknown parties at Lockhart. William Thomas Dorris was elected Treasurer of Caldwell County, Texas on August 24, 1870. He was assassinated exactly one month later. Since he was an ardent supporter of the Union during the war and Texas was under a "Reconstruction" government at the time of Dorris' death, it is reasonable to assume that he probably was killed by Confederate supporters who were unhappy with the government in Texas at the time. After the death of William Dorris, Watson P. Collins, Williams deceased brother Hiram Anderson Dorris' father-in-law was appointed to fill the vacancy as County Treasurer on October 1, 1871. William Thomas Dorris appears on a list of Confederate Conscripts listed as W.F. Dorris at Camp Lockridge, Texas on February 28, 1863. He was enrolled at Lockhart, Caldwell County, Texas on July 19, 1862 by O.O. Scurry for three years and was assigned on January 6, 1863 to the 3rd Regiment, Texas Infantry, C.S.A. He was 30 years old at the time. W.F. Dorris was assigned to Company C, 3rd Regiment, Texas Infantry, C.S.A. as a Private and appears on muster rolls dated Sept/Oct 1862, Nov/Dec 1862 and was issued clothing for the first quarter of 1863
at San Antonio, Texas. He listed his residence as Caldwell County, Texas, his birthplace as Tennessee and was described as 30 years old, 6 feet tall with blue eyes and light hair. William Thomas Dorris enlisted as Private, Company E, 1st Regiment, Texas Cavalry (Union) at Brownsville, Texas on March 25, 1864. He was promoted to Corporal and assigned to General Hamilton's Bodyguard on August 1, 1864 in Baton Rogue, Louisiana. He was reduced back to Private
and transferred back to Company E on January 24, 1865 and was discharged due to expiration of service on March 25, 1865 at Baton Rogue, Louisiana. Whether William Thomas Dorris deserted the Confederate Army or was captured and chose to join the Union forces in Texas is unknown at this
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